by Irene Brand
God help me, Jacob prayed silently as he unfolded the sheet of paper, scanned it and cleared his throat. The writing was blurred and the lines were uneven, as if the writer’s hands were weak.
Looking at his grandfather, Jacob said, “Is it all right if I read it aloud so Gran can hear?”
“Certainly.”
After clearing his throat twice, Jacob read, “‘Dear Mom and Dad, I have a serious injury, and the doctors don’t give much hope for my recovery. I’m sure you’ve been notified by now. But there’s something I must tell you—something I should have told you long ago. Three years ago, I married Marybeth Milton, a student at the university where I was enrolled. Marybeth had promised her parents she wouldn’t marry until she finished college, but we were in love and we got married. Because both of us were away from our families, we thought our secret was safe until after she graduated.’”
Jacob’s voice broke, and he lowered his head. He had always wanted to know about his father, and now that he realized that his father hadn’t forgotten him, his loss seemed unbearable. He cleared his throat, and resumed reading. “‘Even when Marybeth got pregnant right away, we tried to keep our secret, but when her father died, I went home with her for the funeral. When her mother realized that Marybeth was pregnant, we admitted to her that we were married.’”
The writing became increasingly harder for Jacob to read, as if his father’s hands were growing steadily weaker as he wrote. Or was it the mist in his eyes that blurred his vision as he continued reading?
“‘The pressures of a secret marriage, the birth and care of a newborn and trying to keep up our studies made us irritable. Marybeth and I started quarreling, and after one really bad quarrel, she went home to her mother and took our son with her. I was stubborn and decided that she would have to take the first steps at reconciliation. But Marybeth was stubborn, too, and when I didn’t hear from her, I quit school and enlisted.
“‘Somewhere you have a grandson, Jacob Dean Mallory. Will you try to find him and see if he or his mother needs any help? I’m not proud of shirking my duty as a father and then passing my responsibilities on to you, but I thought I would have time to…’”
The letter ended abruptly and Jacob envisioned that scene in the hospital when his father’s hand was no longer able to hold the pen. Had he died then, or…? Tears blurred his eyes and he handed the letter back to his grandfather. Gran knelt by Jacob’s chair, and she took his hand and clasped it tightly.
“So now you know at last,” she said. “It’s a bittersweet moment to gain a father and lose him in the same day, but he did love you and his last thoughts were of you.”
Mr. Mallory cleared his throat and said huskily, “Yes, he wanted us to see if you needed anything. I’m only sorry we are so late in finding you.”
Looking around the room, Mrs. Mallory said, “It’s obvious that you’ve not been in need. This must have been a great home environment for you.”
“Yes, Gran has been wonderful to me, but I’ve always missed not having a father, especially when I wondered why he didn’t want me.”
“But there’s something I don’t understand,” Gran said. “Philip died over thirty years ago, yet you say that you haven’t known about Jacob very long.”
In a strained voice, Mr. Mallory explained. “A few months ago we received a small packet in the mail. It seems that the army hospital in Germany where Philip died was recently renovating its oldest wing. While tearing out some cabinets in the mailroom, they came across a bag of mail that had been covered with boxes of old medical records. Philip’s letter was in that bag, and it was forwarded to us. That’s when we started searching for you.”
Silence wrapped the room like a shroud, until his grandfather asked Jacob, “You’ve never married?”
“No,” Jacob answered.
“We had hoped that we might not find not only a grandson, but also some more grandchildren,” Mrs. Mallory said.
“Then you have other children besides my father?”
“Yes, two daughters and five grandchildren. They live in New York, and we miss them during our visits to Florida,” Mrs. Mallory said. “We’re eager to get home to see them, and that’s the reason for our short visit. And, of course,” she added, “we didn’t know what to expect here.”
“We must be on our way soon,” Mr. Mallory said, “but there are a few business matters that I need to discuss with you.”
He took some papers out of his briefcase. “We have never spent the insurance money Philip left. We invested it, and it’s grown to a tidy sum through the years. It’s yours as soon as we can take care of the legal transfer.”
“That’s generous of you, but it isn’t necessary,” Jacob objected. He explained about his counseling business. “I make a good living, so please keep the money you received from my father. I don’t want it.”
When Mallory started to protest, Jacob added, “You’ve already given me a priceless gift. You’ve given me a father—something I’ve always wanted. After a lifetime of believing that my father didn’t want me, to learn that he acknowledged me on his deathbed is a gift that money can’t buy. And to know that you’re willing to accept me into the family means more to me than money.”
“Nevertheless, the money is yours,” his grandfather insisted, “and I’m going to transfer it to your name as soon as I talk with my accountant. I will need your social security number and other pertinent information. You can leave it in the same investment firm if you like, but the money is yours.”
Jacob was too overwhelmed to answer. He looked at Gran to see her reaction to all they had heard. She shook her head, indicating that she wouldn’t advise him about accepting the insurance money.
“I mentioned that I have a counseling business,” he said, “but I didn’t mention Substitute Siblings, an organization that Gran and I established to help children in need. Perhaps I can use part of the money to support new projects there.”
“The money is yours to do with as you like,” Mallory said. “I’ll have it transferred as soon as possible.”
After he recorded the information he needed, Jacob answered all their questions about his growing-up years and his education. And he was interested to hear about the two aunts he had in New York and also about his father’s childhood.
Three hours later when Gran and Jacob stood on the sidewalk watching the Mallorys drive away, Jacob still wondered if he was awake or if he’d dreamed the afternoon’s events. When his grandparents’ car turned the corner, Gran and Jacob exchanged glances. She grinned delightedly at him.
“I’ve prayed for this day for years,” she said.
“It’s a red-letter day, all right. Not only did I inherit grandparents, two aunts and several cousins, but also Substitute Siblings will have some additional funds to help more kids.”
“I’m glad you agreed to visit them this fall,” Gran said.
“They invited you, too,” Jacob reminded her. “You must go with me.”
“But I won’t. That experience will be for you and your father’s family. I’ve had you all of your life—it’s their turn. I won’t intrude.”
Jacob really didn’t want to go alone, and if Gran wouldn’t go with him, he wished that Aimee would, but there was only one way that was possible. Now that the mystery of his heritage had been cleared up, he was free to deepen his relationship with Aimee, but was he ready to acquire a stepdaughter? He knew if he married Aimee, Samantha was part of the package, too.
He could have called Aimee, but somehow he wanted to be with her, see the expression on her face when he told her about his grandparents’ visit. She had planned an outing with Chloe, and he waited until he was sure she’d be home by the time he drove to her house. She came to the door when he rang the bell.
“Oh, come in,” she said. “I’ve thought about you all day wondering how the visit with your grandparents went.”
“It couldn’t have been better. Do you have time to hear about it?”
“Su
re! I can’t wait to find out.”
They sat side by side on the couch in the living room, while Jacob told her the details of the visit, even the amount of the insurance money he would eventually receive.
“My grandparents live in Malone, New York, and I have two aunts and some cousins who live there, too. They had a family picture, and it seems that they’re all God-fearing people who would be a credit to any family tree.”
“So you see, you’ve been worrying needlessly,” she said and pushed back the hair that had fallen over his forehead.
“Yes, but wouldn’t you have worried, too, if you were in my situation?”
“Of course I would. Are you going to visit them?”
“Yes, in the fall. At least, before my grandparents go to Florida again for the winter.”
She leaned against him, and Jacob put his arm around her shoulders. “You can’t imagine what a burden has been lifted from my shoulders.”
“Yes, I can…I can tell by the absence of a hint of sadness that always seemed to be lurking in your eyes. I pray that I’ll never see it there again.”
Jacob took her face and held it gently, kissed her and cradled her in his arms. She returned his caresses eagerly, until at last they were content to just sit in a close embrace and savor their moments together. Jacob looked ahead, praying that their future years would be as poignant as this moment they shared.
He went home jubilant, feeling that his problems were behind him. His paternal grandparents had recognized him and wanted to become a part of his life. Samantha was becoming less antagonistic about his relationship with Aimee. Everything was falling into place for Aimee and him to plan a life together. He couldn’t envision a cloud in the sky of their future happiness.
The next afternoon when the phone rang, not only did a cloud hover on the horizon, Jacob knew immediately that he faced a storm of gigantic proportions.
“Jacob,” said a voice he hadn’t heard for years, “this is Megan Russell.”
He was momentarily speechless in his surprise, and his body stiffened in shock.
“Jacob?” Megan said again.
“Yes,” he managed to squeeze out the one word from a throat that seemed temporarily numbed by disbelief.
“I’m coming to Benton for the big celebration next month, and I’d like to see you. I owe you an apology and an explanation of what happened between us. I wouldn’t blame you if you refused to see me, but it’s time I set the record straight.”
She spoke calmly, seemingly unaware that she had pulled an emotional rug from under his feet.
Jacob had believed he had forgiven Megan for the trouble and anguish she had caused him, but when he heard her voice, all of the anger he’d once harbored against her surfaced. When he spoke, his voice was quiet, although he knew it carried an undertone of his resentment.
“I can’t believe it. After shaming me before the whole town of Benton and allowing people to think I’d fathered your child, you have the audacity to believe that a mere apology can set things right between us?”
Jacob pictured Megan shrugging her shoulders before she answered, “Well, it’s up to you. Do you think you’re the only one who’s been miserable? I cared about you, Jacob, and I’m not proud of what I did. I had to make a choice between embarrassing you and naming the father of my child. I am sorry I treated you the way I did, but frankly I thought you could deal with the disgrace easier than he could. As I said, I care for you, but I loved him.”
Jacob thought her comments were too bizarre to deserve an answer. “No, I don’t want to see you, Megan. By the mercy of God, I’ve forgiven you for the way you treated me, and I’ll accept your apology. I’ve lived down the bad reputation you foisted upon me. So, let’s leave it at that. I don’t want to see you, and I prefer that you stay away from Benton. If you come back, all the gossip of the past will be resurrected. I don’t think I deserve that.”
“I am coming to Benton for the celebration. I’ll try to sneak in and out of town without making any waves, but I still think we should talk. I owe you an explanation, but it’s up to you. I’ll call after I get to Benton, in case you change your mind.”
She hung up, and almost immediately, Jacob wished he had learned more. Where did she live? He checked quickly to see if his caller ID had registered her telephone number. It hadn’t. Jacob buried his head in his hands.
“God, why? Why did she have to return now? It took years to get over the rejection I had from Megan and from my friends and neighbors who believed I was guilty. Why did she have to return after I’ve found Aimee and want to spend my future with her? Why, God?”
Chapter Sixteen
Jacob was busy with the celebration, especially the dedication of the memorial plaque for David Harwood, and he didn’t contact Aimee for several days leading up to the celebration. She was relieved, for now that Jacob’s heritage was no longer a secret. She was convinced that he loved her, but worried about Samantha. Would he want to marry her in light of Samantha’s coolness? Except for asking Jacob to the birthday dinner—and Aimee suspected that Erica had twisted her arm to get that to happen—Samantha never mentioned Jacob to her. Aimee agonized over what answer she could give if Jacob asked her to marry him.
Jennifer’s injuries were serious enough that she had to be homeschooled, but by the end of June, she was released by her doctor. Driving her mother’s car, she came to see Samantha. Aimee hardly knew her when she walked in the door.
Jennifer anticipated Aimee’s surprise, and being Jennifer, she didn’t hesitate to comment on it. She spread her arms wide and pirouetted for Aimee and Samantha. Her hair was cut in a light brown, short bob. She had on one set of earrings only, a pair of navy blue capris and a white knit blouse.
“Whoo-hoo! The new me!” Mimicking her father, she said, “‘As long as you live under my roof, young lady, you’re going to dress like any other red-blooded American girl rather than some monster from outer space.’”
Aimee couldn’t hold back her laughter.
“I don’t believe this!” Samantha said.
“Which means my Gothic look is gone. No black clothing, no chains and only one pair of earrings.” With lifted eyebrows, she said, her eyes twinkling, “In fact, my father made me take a solemn oath to never again wear a black garment in his presence. And that includes not wearing black to his funeral.”
Samantha was laughing so hard, she held her sides.
“Okay, enough!” she cried.
Jennifer joined Aimee and Samantha in laughing. “Oh, well, I kinda like the simple style. I was trying to make a statement with my Gothic appearance. And my mom has had her share of criticism for not watching me more closely. She’s determined to do what Dad says. I’ll walk the straight and narrow through the rest of high school. If I don’t, Dad will make me attend college in Richmond where he can keep his eye on me. I want to go to Harvard.”
“How you’d get here, Jen?”
“I’ve got Mother’s car, but only to drive over here.”
“Are you going to the celebration tomorrow?” Samantha asked.
“Oh, but yes! Dad is going to make a speech,” Jennifer said, rolling her eyes. “Our whole family will be there.”
“I wish we could sit together,” Samantha said with a disappointed look.
“Dad has some reserved seats with a bunch of big shots. But if I can, I’ll sneak away and sit with you.”
While Jennifer and Samantha were hanging out in her room, the phone rang.
“Aimee, this is Allie Slater. I think the festivities will be too much for me tomorrow, but Chloe wants to go. Would it be too much trouble for you to stop by and pick her up?”
“Not at all. We’ll plan to get there in time for the picnic at noon and stay through the two-hour program that ends at four.”
When she hung up, Aimee realized that she was maturing as much as she hoped Samantha was. A few weeks ago, she would probably have asked Samantha if it was all right to take Chloe. It was no wonder that Samanth
a had thought she called all the shots in the house. Aimee had allowed her to think so.
In a half hour, Samantha and Jennifer came upstairs. “I’ve got to leave,” Jennifer said. “Still on probation, you know. Dad’s really surprised me. He’s laid down ultimatums before but he always forgot them after a day or two. He won’t back down this time. Don’t tell anyone, but I’m finding the more structured life kinda cool.”
“Who called, Mom?”
“Mrs. Slater. She wants us to stop by and take Chloe to the celebration tomorrow.”
Samantha flashed a quick look toward Jennifer. “I’ve been hanging out with Chloe a little.”
“Yeah, Madison told me. Madison says she’s all right.”
“Kinda shy, but she’s a cool kid,” Samantha said. “You’ll like her.”
“Bound to,” Jennifer agreed. Again, imitating her father’s deep voice, she said, “‘It’s time you made more friends. If you broaden your vision, you’ll find out that a lot of the students at that school are worth knowing, instead of just a handful.’”
Aimee grinned as she called goodbye to Jennifer as Samantha walked out to the car with her. Mr. Nibert might have forced his daughter into a more disciplined life, but he certainly hadn’t broken her spirit.
When Samantha came back in, Aimee said, “It’s good to have Jennifer back again.”
“It’s awesome. All of us have grown up a little, though. Maybe the car wreck wasn’t so bad, after all.”
“Thanks for being nice to Chloe.”
“She’s all right, but I still like Madison and Jen best.”
“That’s understandable. I didn’t expect you to take Chloe as your best friend. I just don’t want you to mistreat her. She needs help, and helping her has been good for me.”
“I’ve never mistreated her,” Samantha protested.
Knowing that a few months ago her daughter would have resented Chloe, Aimee said, “No, you haven’t, and I appreciate that. I know you never wanted me to work with the Sibling organization. I can’t understand why exactly. I’ve never neglected you.”